The Madras High Court bench here on Thursday issued a stern warning against polluting the Vaigai.
“We are contemplating a serious action against those who discharge waste into the river. The authorities are directed to act in the matter with great sincerity and seriousness and ensure that all forms of pollution are arrested,” said a division bench comprising Justices R. Sudhakar and S. Vaidyanathan.
The judges also directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to depute a team of officials to control pollution in the river.
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The judges issued the direction while hearing a public interest litigation filed by S. Muthukumar, an advocate.
The petitioner had claimed that the residents of Madurai dumped garbage and discharged sewage into the river. The sewage mixed with the drinking water pipelines in a few places, resulting in contamination of water, he had alleged.
The Madurai Corporation and the TNPCB failed in their duty to protect the river from pollution under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, he had claimed. The case has been posted to December 12 for further hearing.
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